Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies on a worldwide basis, especially in developing countries. The impact of severe IDA can have mortal consequences, since without adequate hemoglobin, the brain and body become deprived of oxygen and, if allowed to continue, death may ensue. It has been shown that iron supplementation in infants and young children can enhance child development, however, it may also result in increased rates of malaria in high burden areas.

The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of providing encapsulated iron (as a powder added to complementary foods) on the susceptibility to clinical malaria among anemic and non-anemic infants and young children (6-24 months of age) living in a high malaria burden area.

The value of performing this research in Ghana is primarily that malaria and anemia remain the most important causes of death and morbidity.

cerebral malaria (defined by a parasite count >5000/μL blood and a concurrent score of <2 on the Blantyre coma scale, with or without convulsions) [ Time Frame: 5 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

powdered vitamin/mineral fortificant WITH iron sprinkled onto food once a day for 5 months

Placebo Comparator: Vitamin/mineral fortificant without iron

Dietary Supplement: vitamin/mineral fortificant without iron

powdered vitamin/mineral fortificant WITHOUT iron sprinkled onto food once a day for 5 months

Detailed Description:

Study Design:

The proposed study is a community-based blinded randomized controlled trial with 2 study arms that will be conducted in two phases:

Phase I will take place during the dry season (December to April), when malaria transmission rates are lower. Eligible subjects (one per household) will be individually randomized to receive a daily dose of either a powdered vitamin/mineral fortificant containing 12.5 mg of iron (plus ascorbic acid, vitamin A and zinc), or a placebo (containing all micronutrients excluding iron), added to complementary foods, for 5 months.

Phase II will take place during the wet season (June to October), when malaria transmission rates are higher. Eligible subjects, who did not participate in Phase I, will be individually randomized to one of the two study arms as described above and followed for 5 months.

A dual phase design, with two unique cohorts, was chosen so that preliminary results (at the end of phase 1) could be assessed by an independent Data Safety and Monitoring Committee. It is possible that during the dry season no impact of iron will be detected, while during the wet season, an impact will be observed. With this possible outcome, it is potentially feasible to translate this knowledge into a Ministry of Health Program to only provide iron supplementation (fortification) during the dry months of the year (December to April).

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

6 Months to 24 Months

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 6-24 months

Ingesting weaning food in addition to breastmilk

Free from malaria or other major illnesses

Afebrile

Living in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana for duration of intervention and follow-up

Exclusion Criteria:

Severe anemia (hemoglobin <70g/L)

Weight-for-height <-3 z-score(severe wasting)

Kwashiorkor (defined as evidence of edema)

Congenital abnormality

Treatment with iron supplements within the past 6 months

Presence of any chronic illness

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01001871